Anemone plant named ‘IFANSA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Anemone  plant named ‘IFANSA’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and uniform plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large semi-double flowers that are white in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Anemone hupehensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IFANSA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Anemone,botanically known as Anemone hupehensis and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘IFANSA’.

The new Anemone plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Yamatsuri Fukushima, Japan. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new compact and vigorous Anemoneplants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Anemone plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in September, 2014 in Yamatsuri Fukushima, Japan of an unnamedproprietary selection of Anemone hupehensis, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Anemonehupehensis, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newAnemone plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Yamatsuri Fukushima, Japan inSeptember, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Anemone by in vitro meristem culture ina controlled environment in Yamatsuri Fukushima, Japan since May, 2016has shown that the unique features of this new Anemone plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Anemone have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and various cultural practices.The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmentalconditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘IFANSA’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘IFANSA’ as a new and distinct Anemone plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and uniform plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Long flowering period.    -   5. Large semi-double flowers that are white in color.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Anemone can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Anemone differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Anemone are taller than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Anemone are larger than flowers        of plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Anemone and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the new Anemone have        white-colored flowers whereas plants of the female parent        selection have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Anemone can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Anemone differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Anemone are much more compact than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Anemone are smaller than flowers        of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Anemone can be compared to plants of Anemone x hybrida‘Whirlwind’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of thenew Anemone and ‘Whirlwind’ differ primarily in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Anemone are more compact than plants of        ‘Whirlwind’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Anemone are darker green in color        than leaves of plants of ‘Whirlwind’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Anemone have narrower sepals        than flowers of plants of ‘Whirlwind’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Anemone plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Anemone plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘IFANSA’ in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up viewof a typical flower and flower buds of ‘IFANSA’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a close-upview of typical leaves of ‘IFANSA’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 19-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Anemone production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25° C.and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were 15 weeksold when the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Anemone hupehensis ‘IFANSA’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Anemone hupehensis, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Anemone hupehensis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 42 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, moderately fibrous; close to N199C            to N199D in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; relatively            compact, upright and uniform plant habit with basal stems            and leaves developing in basal rosettes; numerous basal            rosettes developing per plant; ovate in overall plant shape;            moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 29.5            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 40.8            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 49 cm.-   Branch description:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 23.        -   Length.—About 29.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to about 5° from vertical.        -   Texture and luster.—Densely pubescent; moderately glossy.        -   Color.—Initially, close to 144B; with development, becoming            closer to 144B to 144C and tinged with close to N200A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement, basal leaves.—Alternate; compound.        -   Arrangement, cauline leaves.—Opposite or in whorls of three;            compound.        -   Length, basal leaves.—About 9.5 cm.        -   Width, basal leaves.—About 7.8 cm.        -   Length, cauline leaves.—About 6.3 cm.        -   Width, cauline leaves.—About 4.8 cm.        -   Length, basal leaflets.—About 5.8 cm.        -   Width, basal leaflets.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Length, cauline leaflets.—About 4.1 cm.        -   Width, cauline leaflets.—About 2 cm.        -   Shape, basal leaves.—Ovate to broadly ovate; palmately            three-lobed to trifoliate; depth of sinuses are shallow to            medium and convergent.        -   Shape, cauline leaves.—Ovate; palmately three-lobed to            trifoliate; depth of sinuses are shallow to medium and            convergent.        -   Shape, basal and cauline leaflets.—Ovate.        -   Apex, basal and cauline leaves and leaflets.—Acute.        -   Base, basal leaves and leaflets.—Attenuate to truncate.        -   Base, cauline leaves and leaflets.—Attenuate.        -   Margin, basal and cauline leaves and leaflets.—Biserrate.        -   Aspect, basal and cauline leaves and leaflets.—Mostly flat            to slightly convex.        -   Texture and luster, basal and cauline leaves and leaflets,            upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy.        -   Texture and luster, basal and cauline leaves and leaflets,            lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent; matte.        -   Venation pattern, basal and cauline leaves and            leaflets.—Laciniate.        -   Color, basal and cauline leaves and leaflets.—Developing            leaves and leaflets, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves and leaflets, lower surface: Between 138B            and 144A. Fully expanded leaves and leaflets, upper surface:            Close to NN137A; venation, close to 143B. Fully expanded            leaves and leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,            close to 146D.        -   Leaf petioles.—Length, basal leaves: About 16.7 cm.            Diameter, basal leaves: About 2 mm. Length, cauline leaves:            About 3.2 cm. Diameter, cauline leaves: About 2 mm.            Strength, basal and cauline leaves: Strong. Texture and            luster, basal and cauline leaves, upper and lower surfaces:            Sparsely to moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,            basal leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.            Color, cauline leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B heavily            tinged with close to 197A. Color, cauline leaves, lower            surface: Close to 144A.        -   Stipules.—To date, stipule development has not been observed            on plants of the new Anemone.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Semi-double type            rotate flowers arranged in terminal compound cymes; freely            flowering habit with 115 flowers developing per plant during            the flowering season; flowers face mostly upright to            slightly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Anemone flower            during the late summer into the autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 14.3 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 12.3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6.4 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Shape: Broadly ovate to nearly orbicular. Texture and            luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Between 186C and            200A; proximally, close to 149B.        -   Petals.—Absent.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About 17 arranged in two            whorls. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape:            Elliptic to obovate; slightly concave. Apex: Bluntly acute            to obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,            lower surface: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to NN155D; proximally,            close to 157D. When opening, lower surface: Close to NN155D.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; distally,            slightly tinged with close to 76D; venation, close to            NN155B; color does not change with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D slightly tinged with            close to 76D; venation, close to NN155B; color does not            change with development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Aspect: About 22.5° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture            and luster: Moderately pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:            Close to 146A strongly tinged with close to N200A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Aspect: About 40° from the peduncle axis. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color: Slightly darker than 146C; upper            surface tinged with close to 200A.        -   Flower bracts.—To date, flower bract development has not            been observed on plants of the new Anemone.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number per flower:            About 120. Filament length: About 4.5 mm. Filament color:            Close to 157C. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About            2 mm. Anther diameter: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to            17B. Amount of pollen: Moderate to abundant. Pollen color:            Close to 11D. Gynoecium: Pistil number per flower:            About 400. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma length: About 0.5 mm. Stigma diameter:            About 0.5 mm. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Style length:            About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close            to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Anemone.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Anemone have been observed to    have good garden performance, to tolerate high temperatures of about    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Anemone have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Anemone plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Anemone plant named ‘IFANSA’ asillustrated and described.